The Archangel Michael is the closest to the Lord in the Jewish scriptures, for his very name means "Like Unto God." As the eldest Archangel, he is given captaincy of all of God's natural phenomena, including rain, wind, fire, snow, thunder, lightning, and hail. Michael is believed to have appeared to Moses as the fire in the burning bush and to have led Daniel from the lions' den.

In the Christian Bible, Michael is said to be the Angel who told the Virgin Mary of her approaching death.